Online forums (also known as online discussion sites, message boards, newsgroups, and Internet forums) are powerful tools for sharing information. Its use has become ubiquitous and wide-ranging. Many people use discussion sites on a daily basis, whether it’s to gain knowledge, share ideas, or just to feel part of a community.

Why use online forums?

* communicate with other like-minded people who have the same or similar interests
* exchange ideas and intellectual thoughts
* offer your opinion or advice
* submit materials for others to consider and provide feedback on your website, business ideas, or questions
* discover new opinions and ideas
* stay up to date with the latest news and trends
* meet new friends and potential customers

Participating in forums is another way to stay in touch with people in the same community and stay up to date on recent events. It is a place to express your opinions, be heard and discover the thoughts of others.

This social media can become addictive. For some, online forums provide a haven; a place to escape the daily grind and enjoy the aura of the community. Forum use is certainly a concern for employers, due to reduced productivity and procrastination on the part of the users involved. However, most of us are grateful for its existence.

How to use online forums:

The appearance of an online forum can seem overwhelming at first. There is information, posts, and threads flowing all over the home page in what appears to be an ad hoc fashion. Occasionally, the initial reaction of first-time users is to put discussion sites in the basket too hard. Here is an easy step-by-step guide to using online discussions:

* Record. Most discussion forums require you to become a member by registering or registering in order to post. Invariably, you will need to provide a username (your alias), a password, and an email address. The forum will also require your acceptance of its terms and conditions.

* Confirmation. After registering with an Internet forum, you will need to validate your email by following the validation link that the site sent you.

*Rules. Familiarize yourself with the rules and network etiquette required by the forum. Spamming, double posting, and registering multiple user accounts are generally prohibited. Try to stick with it to avoid being called a troll for unintentionally breaking the rules.

* Publication. A forum has predefined topics (called threads). Members can post messages or comments (called posts) within these topics. The message will be included in a box with the username, time and date reported on the left side or at the top of the post. Members can usually edit or delete their own posts. Many online forums limit posts to a certain number of characters.

* Threads. A thread (topic) starts with a post. Other members can then follow the conversation started by the original post (sometimes called the thread starter). Sometimes responses and comments can get derailed. The tread usually shows the posts in opposite chronological order (first to current). The abbreviation OP often refers to the original poster. Some message boards allow you to customize the view to start with the initial post. They can also have a thread view that shows the replies branching in priority to chronological order.

* Moderation. Moderators monitor and enforce the rules of the message board. They can have access to all posts and threads or just those within their area of ​​responsibility. Moderators have the power to remove a post and ban and suspend members who violate discussion site policy. The moderator is usually a friend of the site owner. Among other responsibilities, they also help members in need and respond to complaints.

If this is your first time visiting online forums, try some smaller message boards to get started. The smaller sites still have that community feel and are more than happy to accommodate beginners. Once you get used to the way discussion websites work, you can join some larger expert message boards if you like. Above all, don’t be shy about expressing your opinion; That’s what forums are for.